Martin Turnbull
asked
C.W. Gortner:
Hi CW, I have a question that relates more to the craft of writing. Do you approach these sorts of biographical novels the way most novels are constructed? i.e. with a definitive character arc taking the protagonist from start to finish and have them overcome a problem and/or flaw while battling an antagonist? Or is your goal to simply follow the life of your heroine and let that be the story?
C.W. Gortner
Hi Martin,
Thanks for your question. With a biographical novel, it's a hybrid of both approaches. My heroines actually lived, so I have to stay faithful to the facts of their life, yet at the same time I must find the arc in their life on which to build my novel. In some cases, as with Maria Feodorovna, Chanel and Dietrich, I select a large portion of their lives, not their entire life, because real lives can have several arcs and a novel is a finite amount of words. I find it more challenging to build a novel on the entire life, as I did with Catherine de Medici, because of limitations on word counts - you end up leaving out as much as you put in. In the end, my work is fiction, based on fact, so it's a delicate balancing act between the two.
Thanks for your question. With a biographical novel, it's a hybrid of both approaches. My heroines actually lived, so I have to stay faithful to the facts of their life, yet at the same time I must find the arc in their life on which to build my novel. In some cases, as with Maria Feodorovna, Chanel and Dietrich, I select a large portion of their lives, not their entire life, because real lives can have several arcs and a novel is a finite amount of words. I find it more challenging to build a novel on the entire life, as I did with Catherine de Medici, because of limitations on word counts - you end up leaving out as much as you put in. In the end, my work is fiction, based on fact, so it's a delicate balancing act between the two.
More Answered Questions
Elisa Santos
asked
C.W. Gortner:
I have just finished you book on Isabella of Castille - it was my first and i loved it! There is not much about certain countries histories - there is a lot about England, France, Italy perhaps, but then there are a few countries that seem forgotten, when it comes to writte about their historical figures. From your POV as a historical fiction writter, why do you think that happens?
Win
asked
C.W. Gortner:
Hey Mr Gortner, I love following your book updates, especially for the recommendations and reviews which are really insightful. I was just wondering what historical period you'll love to dive into if you have a chance. And also, I'd love to know your take on what 'makes' historical fiction the genre it is. Thank you!
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